Vascular Calcification Elderly Prevalence

What is vascular calcification? This is a problem that occurs mostly in the elderly because of aging. However, older people can get vascular calcification because of end stage renal failure, cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular problems or atherosclerosis.

If an elderly person has vascular calcification, it basically refers to stiffening of the muscles that line the blood vessels. This means that the heart has to work harder to pump the blood through the blood vessels and can lead to the enlargement of the chambers of the heart. This in turn can be quite risky because the chances of getting heart attacks, heart failure or any other heart-related problems increase.

As mentioned earlier that vascular calcification is quite prevalent in elder and senior people. But how does vascular calcification occur? In our body there are minerals like calcium and phosphorous which keep circulating in the blood. These minerals are used to help our bones to form. However, when the bone formation process stops due to some reason, the minerals need a place to be deposited and this is when they get relieved in the blood vessels leading to vascular calcification. At least this is what some scientists believe after conducting research and studies.

Vascular calcification should not be taken lightly. It is a known fact that blocked arteries and blood clots that lead to strokes are caused by vascular calcification. Therefore, any elderly person suffering from this will be in a constant state of danger as the calcification can be lead to many problems including death.

As a person ages, the kidneys do not perform they way they used to when the person was young. The kidneys shrink in size besides showing a reduction in efficiency. There is no doubt if an adult has kidney failure, it will reduce his independence and affect his wellbeing. More..